Road Safety

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities have occurred in each year between 2000 and 2005 as a result of motor accidents caused by drivers (a) using mobile phones and (b) smoking while driving.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not available. However, from 1 January 2005, information on contributory factors to accidents have been collected for personal injury road accidents reported at scene by a police officer. One of the factors is "driver using mobile phone". Subject to quality tests, first results should be available in autumn 2006.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public meetings are planned to be held on avian influenza; and where they will be held.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not organised any public meetings on Avian Influenza, however, we are running a series of regional meetings for poultry producers and others associated with the industry on a range Avian Influenza issues.

Bovine TB

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on the random badger culling trial (RBCT) since 1998; and what estimate she has made of the total cost of the RBCT.

Ben Bradshaw: The randomised badger culling trial began in December 1998. To the end of 2004–05 the cost was approximately £32 million. Surveying and analytical work is continuing and is expected to cost approximately £7 million pounds in 2005–06.

Brazilian Beef

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the (a) use of slave labour and (b) clearing of rainforest in the production of Brazilian beef exported to the UK.

Elliot Morley: The information is as follows.
	(a) The Brazilian Government is committed to eradicating slave labour practices. Legislation has now been prepared to confiscate farms that practice forced and child labour. This issue continues to be a matter of serious concern and our embassy in Brazil is monitoring developments closely. We welcome the engagement of civil society in Brazil and internationally on this issue.
	More broadly, the Government have played a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to tackle abuses of workers' rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) whose 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-Up works towards the elimination of forced labour and child labour, the ending of discrimination in employment and the right to organise and collective bargaining; and has provided specific support to the ILO's action programme on combating forced labour.
	(b) With regard to deforestation, the UK has contributed £14 million to the multi-donor pilot programme for the preservation of Brazilian rain forests and is a major contributor to the global environment facility (GEF) which is creating and maintaining protected areas in the region through the Amazon Region Protected Areas Programme. The managers of the GEF have approved or endorsed funding for 29 projects in Brazil, with a value of approximately £150 million. The UK also continues to support projects in the Amazon through multilateral organisations, including the European Commission and the World Bank.
	In terms of beef exports to the UK, our records indicate that there was a slight decrease in the amount of Brazilian beef entering the UK in 2005 compared to 2004. The UK still needs to import beef as, until very recently, we were only 70 per cent. self-sufficient in beef production. However, we do expect beef imports to now fall.

Forest Law Enforcement Governance and  Trade Processes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the UK Government are taking to prevent circumvention through third party countries of the voluntary partnership agreements under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade processes.

Elliot Morley: We recognise that a bilateral agreement such as the Voluntary Partnership Agreements outlined in the EU's Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation will never be watertight. Partner countries can import and export timber to third countries outside of the FLEGT scheme. The Commission's original proposal attempted to tackle this issue by requiring all imports of timber into the EU to require a certificate of origin. Customs experts felt it would not work in practice and risked a challenge under the WTO by putting a requirement on third countries.
	Despite concerted efforts by member states, no alternative measure to tackle this problem through the licensing system has been found. Instead, circumvention is tackled by making it explicit that timber defined as "legally produced" will include timber imported from third countries (and therefore which could be illegally felled) and making it a requirement for Partner Countries to report on timber import levels and their actions to tackle circumvention.
	The Government see the bilateral approach of the Forests Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier as an important way to develop experience in tackling illegal logging and to build the consensus that could lead to a multilateral agreement. The UK is working very hard with other consuming countries to address issues of trade with third party countries.
	Illegal logging was one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. Ministers agreed to a range of actions, and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress. The UK has also led in promoting and supporting Regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) processes in order to intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multi-lateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK Government's policy is towards legislation to ban illegal timber imports into the EU.

Elliot Morley: As part of the 2003 FLEGT Action Plan, the European Commission committed itself to exploring additional options to tackle illegal logging. This includes looking at outright ban on the importation of illegal timber. Government will need to look at the impact and practicality of such an option carefully, particularly the impact of requiring all timber to be identified as "legal"; whether that could be enforced and the effect of such a measure on developing countries that rely on income from timber.
	The UK Government believe that, in the long term, a multilateral approach would be the best way to tackle illegal logging. However, we recognise the need to build consensus with producing countries to achieve this. The Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation, with its innovative approach of balancing bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will play a key role in realising this consensus.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had about illegal timber in the past 12 months.

Elliot Morley: The Government have used their presidencies of the G8 and EU to really focus on the issue of illegal logging and to promote the FLEGT Action Plan.
	Illegal logging was one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. G8 Ministers agreed to a range of actions to tackle illegal logging and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress. Under the UK presidency of the EU, the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation was adopted at the EU Agriculture Council in December 2005.
	Defra works very closely with the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on illegal logging and Ministers continually raise the issue of illegal logging at appropriate bilateral and multi-lateral events. In particular my my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Thomas) was present at the first ministerial meeting of the Europe-North Asia (ENA) Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) process in St. Petersburg in December 2005.
	Ministers have also engaged in dialogue through a range of outreach events; addressed international stakeholder meetings at Chatham House and participated in Round Tables with Industry. Ministerial evidence was submitted to the Environment Audit Committee in November 2005.

Recycled Waste

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of waste from offices of the House was recycled over the period 2000 to 2005.

Nick Harvey: Data is not separately collected which could distinguish between waste recycled from offices and from other parts of the estate. The proportion of waste recycled from the whole estate (including the House of Lords) since records began is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2002–03 38.8 
			 2003–04 26.2 
			 2004–05 29.3 
			 2005–06 (2)36.7 
		
	
	(2) April to December 2005
	Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what reduction in water consumption her Department made between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2005.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport signed up for the Office for Government Commerce's "Watermark" project in 2002, but their consultants were unable to identify opportunities for reductions in water consumption.
	The Department is about to undergo a water usage audit by the utility supplier, Thames Water, and will follow their recommendations.
	The Department will commence refurbishment of its main headquarters building in the next financial year, and is planning to install water saving devices as part of the project.

Film Council

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Government allocated to the UK Film Council in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: Government funding directly allocated to UK Film Council in each of the last five years is detailed in the table:
	
		
			£ million 
			  Grant In Aid Lottery Other(6) 
		
		
			 2004–05 24.11 29.9 0.8 
			 2003–04 24.11 28.4 — 
			 2002–03 24.11 32.4 — 
			 2001–02 20.86 36.6 — 
			 2000–01 21.76 34.1 — 
		
	
	(6) In 2004–05, a £0.8 million modernisation award was made to the British Film Institute by the DCMS and administered by UK Film Council.

Miners Compensation

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid to ex-miners in the Easington constituency in respect of (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema in each year since 2002.

Malcolm Wicks: The level of compensation paid to claimants in Easington since 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  VWF COPD 
		
		
			 2002 7.7 7.0 
			 2003 7.9 11.4 
			 2004 8.4 11.5 
			 2005 7.5 12.9 
			 Total 31.5 42.8 
		
	
	The COPD scheme includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Small Business Service

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the national targets are for the Small Business Service; and what the performance of offices covering south Devon are in relation to those targets.

Alun Michael: The Small Business Service (SBS) is responsible for delivering results against the DTI public service agreement (PSA) target 6 as follows:
	"To help build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential—with (i) an increase in the number of people considering going into business, (ii) an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and (iii) more enterprise in disadvantaged communities."
	National performance against these targets is shown in the DTI Autumn Performance Report published in December 2005, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House, and also at www.dti.gov.uk/about_dti_documents.html.
	For PSA 6 (iii) from the 2002 spending review, enterprise in disadvantaged areas is measured by the gap in VAT registrations per 10,000 resident adults in the 20 per cent. most and 20 per cent. least deprived areas of England. The area of south Devon is served by Business Link Devon and Cornwall. The latest figures are as follows:
	
		VAT Registrations per 10,000 resident adults
		
			 England 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—most deprived areas 25.4 25.5 26.2 28.6 27.7 
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—least deprived areas 42.4 39.9 42.5 45.3 42.4 
			 Gap 40 36 38 37 35 
			 Devon and Cornwall Business Link area   
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—most deprived areas 34.8 32.1 37.0 44.8 38.4 
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—least deprived areas 22.6 23.7 24.1 30.2 24.1 
			 Gap -54 -35 -53 -48 -59 
		
	
	The results for Devon and Cornwall show that there are more registrations per head of population in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas.
	Data for Devon and Cornwall relating to all other targets are not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sunday Trading

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which company has been appointed to undertake the independent economic cost-benefit analysis changes in Sunday trading law; what his estimate is of the total cost of this review; and if he will publish the analysis once completed.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) on 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2001–02W. Indepen Consulting Ltd. Have been chosen to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis of the impact of further liberalisation of Sunday Trading. The cost of the study is commercially confidential. It is our intention to publish the cost benefit analysis after its completion in the spring.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action his Department is taking, in conjunction with the Global Fund, to tackle the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Gareth Thomas: HIV and AIDS in Africa is a priority for DFID, as outlined in "Taking Action: the UK government's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the Developing World". The strategy commits the UK Government to spending £1.5 billion over the next three years on HIV-related work.
	The UK has committed £359 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (2002–08). In July 2005, the UK doubled funding to the Global Fund to £100 million for 2006 and the same for 2007. Of total Global Fund resources, 56 per cent. of funding is spent on HIV/AIDS and 60 per cent. will go to sub-Saharan Africa.
	Across its 16 priority countries in Africa, DFID is working closely with governments and other development partners (including the Global Fund) to strengthen national comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care services. We also address broader issues which affect HIV and AIDS such as human rights and health and education services. In countries such as Mozambique, DFID focuses on supporting national government decision-making processes in line with the "3 ones" principles (ie developing one national HIV/AIDS strategy, one co-ordinating body and one monitoring and evaluation system). In countries where working with the Government has been more difficult, such as Zimbabwe, we have been supporting UN agencies and civil society organisations to provide a range of HIV and AIDS services to vulnerable populations.

Adult Education (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which further education colleges in Hammersmith and Fulham will receive (a) a decrease and (b) an increase in their funding for adult education, not including for basic skills courses, in 2006–07.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has not yet made allocations to further education (FE) providers for 2006–07. On 21 October I set out the Government's priorities for the learning and skills sector and the impact on funding in 2006–07 and 2007–08, and full details can be found in "Priorities for Success" on the LSC's website. Following my Department's grant letter to the LSC, budgets have been allocated to LSC regions, and local LSCs will provide provisional allocations to FE colleges and providers for the 2006–07 academic year by the end of this month. Final agreed budgets are expected to be confirmed in May.

School Performance Data

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the cost was to her Department of producing the performance and assessment data for schools issued in December 2005;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the cost of correcting and re-issuing the performance and assessment data for schools first published in December 2005;
	(3)  when schools will receive corrected performance and assessment data.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The performance and assessment reports are produced by Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 30 January 2006
	PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS 46392/46644/46645: PANDA REPORTS
	Your recent parliamentary questions have been referred to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of schools, for reply.
	In sum, you asked:
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was to her Department of producing performance and assessment data for schools issued in December 2005. (PQ 46392)
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of correcting and re-issuing the performance and assessment data for schools first published in December 2005. (PQ 46645)
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when schools will receive corrected performance and assessment data. (PQ 46644)
	In response to PQ 46392, the PANDA (Performance and Assessment) report issued to all mainstream maintained secondary schools in England on 23 December 2005 was part of a series of reports published in 2005/06. Six sets of PANDA reports have been produced and made available to schools so far in 2005/06.
	For all 18,000 mainstream maintained primary schools in England the following PANDAs were produced:
	A PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A "New Style" PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A "New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data
	For all 3,400 mainstream maintained secondary schools in England the following PANDAs were produced:
	A PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A "New Style" PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A "New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data
	The total cost to Ofsted of developing, producing and supporting schools and inspectors in using the PANDAs in 2005/06 was £290,000. Appendix A provides a breakdown of these costs.
	This annual cost includes the development costs associated with the release of a "New Style" PANDA in September 2005. This and subsequent PANDAs contained new analysis using more sophisticated techniques and improved presentations.
	It is not possible to identify the exact cost of producing the PANDA reports released on 23 December 2005 since the direct staff costs incurred cannot be attributed separately to the development, production and support to schools and inspectors in their use of the PANDA. However the cost of developing, producing and supporting schools and inspectors in the use of this particular PANDA has been estimated to be £50,000, equal to 1/6th of the annual cost of producing the six sets of PANDA reports released in 2005/06.
	In response to PQ 46645, the "New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data and released on 23 December 2005 contained an error. The analysis in table 3.4.14 excluded A* grades from the calculations. The error required one line of programming code to be corrected. Following the correction, the production of the revised documents required IT processing time which incurred no additional cost. The only additional cost was for a letter sent to all secondary schools informing them of the error and the remedial action being taken. This additional letter cost £1,500.
	In response to PQ 46644, a corrected "New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data was made available for schools to download from the Ofsted website on 26 January 2006.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	APPENDIX A
	2005/06 costs for PANDA development, production and support
	Direct staff costs (including staff on-costs, NI, pension etc) = £210,000
	Comprising of:
	0.5 FTE Band A (Grade 7 equivalent)
	1 FTE B1 (SEO equivalent)
	2 FTE B2s (HEO equivalent)
	2 FTE B3s (EO equivalent)
	1 FTE C1s (AO equivalent)
	Cost of distribution of 66,000 letters to schools = £30,000
	Cost of website hosting and maintenance = £50,000
	Total 2005/06 cost for PANDA development, production and support = £290,000

Afghanistan

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received of Iranian assistance to terrorists and insurgent forces in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Iran has links to a variety of groups in Afghanistan but the Government have no evidence of Iranian assistance to terrorist and insurgent forces in Afghanistan. Iran has stated that it supports the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan and the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and international community to build stability and security. We welcome this commitment.

Nepal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nepal about the detention under house arrest of the leaders of Nepal's five principal political parties.

Kim Howells: The UK is deeply troubled by recent political developments in Nepal. Following the arrest and detention of the leaders of the five main political parties on 19 January, I issued a statement in which I said, "The UK is extremely concerned by the King's actions, and we can see no grounds for these anti-democratic measures. I call on the King urgently to release those arrested, and to find ways to resume dialogue with the political parties." The statement is available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&c id=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1136906017567%20&year=2006&month=2006–01–02&date=2006–01–19
	The following day I summoned the Nepalese ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to explain his Government's actions to senior officials and urged the Government of Nepal to release all of the political prisoners detained in the most recent round-up of activists and party leaders.
	The UK also joined EU partners in issuing a statement by EU Heads of Mission in Nepal deploring all of the recent arrests including of party leaders, political activists, members of civil society and human rights defenders. This is available at: http://www.ambkathmandu.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/News/StatementOfTheEUHeadsOfMissionInNepal.htm
	We view the recent arrests and the suspension of the right to free association as a severe setback to democracy and we continue to urge the King to urgently find ways to resume dialogue with the political parties. We are encouraged to note that many of the party leaders who were detained have now been released. But 200 political party activists are still in detention including one of the top party leaders who is still being held under house arrest.

Younas Case (Pakistan)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in the Younas case currently before the High Court in Pakistan; and if he will take steps to reiterate the Government's case against the use of the death penalty and for the need for a fair trial conducted without fear of intimidation.

Kim Howells: We have not made any further representations on this case since the answer the my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Europe, (Mr. Alexander), gave my hon. Friend on 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 300W. We were concerned to learn about the apparent misuse of the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan and are monitoring this case closely. Mr. Masih's application for bail was heard on 31 January. The court has not yet announced its decision on this application. We continue to lobby, both bilaterally and as part of the EU, on minority issues in Pakistan, in particular the misuses of the Blasphemy Law. In December 2005, as presidency the UK delivered an EU démarche on human rights to the Government of Pakistan, which encouraged the repeal of the Blasphemy Laws and the death penalty.

Asylum Seekers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many asylum decisions have been taken in each month of the last two years; and how many have been judged as late and opportunistic;
	(2)  what the average time is which has elapsed before asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic are deported; and what measures are in place to ensure that such applicants are deported quickly;
	(3)  what the average cost has been of dealing with each asylum applicant judged late and opportunistic;
	(4)  how many asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic have been considered unsuitable for detention in each month of the past two years; and where they have been located;
	(5)  what the nine asylum routes are under the New Asylum Model;
	(6)  what arrangements are in place to detain those asylum applicants that are judged late and opportunistic; and how many such applicants have been detained;
	(7)  if he will make a statement on the New Asylum Model;
	(8)  how many asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic have been deported in each month of the last two years.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum initial decisions by month is published quarterly. Copies are available from the Library and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html "Late and opportun- istic" is not, however, a category of asylum decision, but a part of a casework-handling process which has not, prior to the advent of the New Asylum Model (NAM) in 2005, been dealt with as a discrete category. We have not as yet decided the appropriate format in which to publish NAM data.

Asylum Seekers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers accommodated in (a) England, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Peterborough City Council Unitary Authority and (d) Peterborough constituency, were granted (i) asylum, (ii) indefinite leave to remain and (iii) refugee status in each of the last 10 years; and how many illegal immigrants who had been accommodated in each area have been deported in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of persons who were granted indefinite leave to remain and those who were granted refugee status in each of the last 10 years is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by the examination of individual case records.
	Data on asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library.
	Information on the number of people who were deported from the UK is published on an annual basis in the Home Office Command Paper, "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". It is not possible to break this information down by the region that they were residing in.

Identity Fraud

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the levels of identity fraud in other countries (a) with and (b) without identity cards.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The most recent study of identity fraud in other countries is contained in the 2002 Cabinet Office publication "Identity Fraud: A Study". This study is available from the publications archive page on the identity cards website—www.identitycards.gov.uk. Chapter 6 summarises the results of research on the extent and nature of identity fraud overseas and action taken to counter identity fraud. The countries examined which had an identity card scheme were, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Spain and Germany. The other countries involved were, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, all of which do not have identity cards.
	One of the main conclusions of the research was that all countries experience difficulty in establishing levels of identity fraud. The research also suggests that countries which use existing identifiers as pseudo "identity numbers", such as the social security number in the USA, encounter many problems with identity fraud and with establishing the validity of the number, not least because it was not intended to be used for the wide variety of purposes that have become commonplace in the absence of a securely issued identity number.

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish all the data from the Prisons Resettlement Survey 2003.

Fiona Mactaggart: The key findings from the 2003 resettlement survey were published in February 2005 in "Home Office Research Findings 248". This was published as an online publication and can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/rfpubs1.html
	The findings from this survey (and equivalent surveys for 2001 and 2004) form the basis of a reconviction study which is currently being undertaken. This will include an analysis of any association between a range of factors (such as having employment and/or accommodation arranged and having received a visit during custody from a family member or partner) and subsequent proven reoffending. Initial results will be available in early summer, with publication later in the year.

Prisons

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prisoners (i) entering adult prisons and (ii) leaving prison on release from their first sentence and (b) under 21-year-olds entering young offender institutions on their first custodial sentence could not read or write to a sufficiently high standard to apply for a job via a job centre in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not collate the information requested centrally, however Home Office statistics show that 37 per cent. of prisoners have reading skills below level 1. (Prison Statistics for England and Wales 2002).
	As a result of learning and skills provision in prisons, the number of basic skills awards achieved by offenders in custody exceeded 63,000 in 2004–05 and the national probation directorate exceeded its annual target for basic skills awards with nearly 9,500 awards achieved by offenders in the community.
	The Green Paper, "Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment" (Cm 6702) launched by Ruth Kelly on 15 December, set out the Government's strategy to improve the skills and job prospects of all offenders, so that more offenders secure employment in order to reduce reoffending.

Industrial Heritage Museums

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture and (b) Cadw in respect of opportunities to promote tourism and employment through the establishment of industrial heritage museums.

Nick Ainger: I have regular discussions with the Assembly Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport about matters affecting his portfolio, which includes responsibility for Cadw.
	I share the Assembly Government's recognition of our industrial heritage as a valuable resource for the development of tourism. The "Herian" initiative in South Wales, for example, aims to develop a sustainable approach to interpreting and promoting the area's unique and fascinating industrial heritage for the benefit of visitors and local communities.

Devolution

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on devolution in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: On 11 January, in a statement to the House, I made clear that "this Government believes that 2006 can be the year for restoration of the Assembly and will work to that end as a matter of the utmost priority".
	Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are due in May 2007. In order that those elections are meaningful, we require an Assembly exercising its full responsibilities. The need for progress toward genuine political engagement is urgent.
	2006 can and must be a year of historic progress in Northern Ireland. It must be a year in which we see a fully inclusive, power-sharing Executive restored so that locally elected politicians can take the decisions that affect the everyday lives of the people of Northern Ireland.

Prisoners (Nationality)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of (a) female and (b) male prisoners in Northern Ireland are citizens of the Irish Republic;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, on Male Prisoners (Nationality), whether the statistics provided omit prisoners of Irish nationality; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Upon committal each prisoner is required to record whether they are from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Other (another country).
	However, as the Belfast Agreement recognises the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, it is not possible to state definitively how many prisoners have "Irish nationality".
	Nationality details provided in my answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, refer only to those who stated their nationality was "other".

Self-invested Personal Pension

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared on his decision to withdraw the right to hold residential property in a self-invested personal pension.

Ivan Lewis: A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) covering all additional legislative changes on Pension Simplification announced since April 2004 will be published alongside Finance Bill 2006.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the statutory instruments introduced by his Department since 6 May 2005.

John Healey: The information requested in respect of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs is as follows:
	
		
			   Statutory instruments 
		
		
			 HM Treasury   
			 2005 1433 Prospectus Regulations 
			 2005 1479 Recovery of Taxes etc. Due in Other Member States (Amendment of Section 134 of the Finance Act 2002) Regulations 
			 2005 1480 Tonnage Tax (Exception of Financial Year 2005) Order 
			 2005 1518 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 1525 Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1526 Burma (Financial Sanctions) Regulations 
			 2005 1527 International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (Financial Sanctions Against Indictees) Regulations 
			 2005 1529 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 
			 2005 1532 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes) (Exemptions) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1538 Lloyd's Sourcebook (Amendment of the Finance Act 1993 and the Finance Act 1994) Order 
			 2005 1539 Reporting of Savings Income Information (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1634 Stamp Duty (Consequential Amendment of Enactments) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 
			 2005 1644 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Administration Orders Relating to Insurers) (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 2005 1709 Recovery of Duties and Taxes Etc. Due in Other Member States (Corresponding UK Claims, Procedure and Supplementary) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1713 Finance Act 2003, sections 189 and 190, (Appointed Day) Order 
			 2005 1714 Climate Change Levy (Combined Heat and Power Stations) Regulations 
			 2005 1715 Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) Regulations 
			 2005 1724 Value Added Tax (Disclosure of Avoidance Schemes) (Designations) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1978 Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) Order 
			 2005 1990 Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extension of Exceptions relating to Recognised Exchanges) Regulations 
			 2005 1993 Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax to Museums and Galleries) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1996 Registration of Civil Partnerships (Fees) Order 
			 2005 1997 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Fees) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1998 Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) (Lloyd's) Regulations 
			 2005 2000 Civil Partnership (Amendments to Registration Provisions) Order 
			 2005 2005 Friendly Societies (Modification of the Corporation Tax Acts) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2007 Finance Act 2002, Section 117 (Day Appointed for Cessation of Effect) Order 
			 2005 2010 Finance (No.2) Act 2005, section 6 (Appointed Day and Savings Provisions) 
			 2005 2012 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Disregard and Bringing into Account of Profits and Losses) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2013 Exchange Gains and Losses (Bringing into Account Gains or Losses) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2014 Friendly Societies (Modification of the Corporation Tax Acts) Regulations 
			 2005 2082 Finance Act 2002, Schedule 26, Parts 2 and 9 (Amendment No.2) Order 
			 2005 2209 Income Tax (Car Benefits) (Reduction of Value of Appropriate Percentage) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2210 Friendly Societies (Accounts and Related Provisions) (Amendment) 
			 2005 2211 Friendly Societies Act 1992 (International Accounting Standards and Other Accounting Amendments) Order 
			 2005 2422 Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No.5) Regulations 
			 2005 2423 Capital Allowances (Environmentally Beneficial Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 2424 Capital Allowances (Energy-saving Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 2561 Individual Savings Account (Amendment No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 2562 Personal Equity Plan (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2899 Exemption From Income Tax For Certain Interest and Royalty Payments (Amendment to Section 97(1) of the Finance Act 2004 and Section 757(2) of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005) Order 
			 2005 2919 Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Tax Credits, etc.) (Consequential Amendments) 
			 2005 2967 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consequential Amendments) Order 
			 2005 3071 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3130 Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No.6) Regulations 
			 2005 3131 Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3132 Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3133 Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3134 Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 
			 2005 3167 Registration of Civil Partnerships (Fees) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3168 Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 
			 2005 3174 Reporting of Suspicious Civil Partnerships Regulations 
			 2005 3176 Civil Partnership (Registration Provisions) Regulations 
			 2005 3177 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3203 Cash Ratio Deposits (Eligible Liabilities) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 3229 Tax and Civil Partnership Regulations 
			 2005 3230 Tax and Civil Partnership (No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 3289 General Insurance Reserves (Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3291 Value Added Tax (Input Tax) (Person Supplied) Order 
			 2005 3311 Revenue and Customs (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 
			 2005 3327 Income Tax (Indexation) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3328 Value Added Tax (Betting, Gaming and Lotteries) Order 
			 2005 3329 Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3330 Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) (Amendment) 
			 2005 3337 Finance (No.2) Act 2005, Section 45, (Appointed Day) Order 
			 2005 3348 Personal Equity Plan (Amendment No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 3349 Child Trust Funds (Amendment No.3) Regulations 
			 2005 3350 Individual Savings Account (Amendment No.3) Regulations 
			 2005 3374 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Disregard and Bringing into Account of Profits and Losses) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 
			 2005 3375 Overseas Life Insurance Companies (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3376 Research and Development Tax Relief (Definition of "Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise") Order 
			 2005 3383 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Change of Accounting Practice) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3392 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) 
			 2005 3422 Loan Relationship and Derivative Contracts (Exchange Gains and Losses using Fair Value Accounting) Regulations 
			 2005 3440 Finance Act 2002, Schedule 26 (Parts 2 and 9) (Amendment No.3) Order 
			 2005 3465 Insurance Companies (Corporation Tax Acts) (Amendment) Order 
			 2006 5 The Public Contracts Regulations 
			 2006 6 The Utilities Regulations 
			 2006 50 The Financial Markets (Settlement Finality) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2006 58 The FSMA 2000 (Designated Professional Bodies) (Amendment) Order 
			 2006 59 The Climate Change Agreements (Energy-intensive) Installations 2006 
			 2006 127 The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2006 139 The Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extensions of Exceptions to Recognised 
			 2006 144 The Duty Stamps (Amendment of Paragraph 1 (3) of Schedule 2 A to the Alcoholic Duties Act 1979 Order 2006 
			 2006 184 The Taxation of Chargeable Gains (Gilt-Edged Securities) Order 
			
			 HM Revenue and Customs   
			 2005 1449 Tonnage Tax (Further Opportunity for Election) Order 
			 2005 1523 Finance Act 1995 (Denatured Alcohol) (Appointed Day and Savings) Order 
			 2005 1524 Denatured Alcohol Regulations 
			 2005 1716 Climate Change Levy (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 
			 2005 1727 Gaming Duty (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1868 Stamp Duty Land Tax Avoidance Schemes (Prescribed Descriptions of Arrangements) Regulations 
			 2005 1869 Tax Avoidance Schemes (Information) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1907 Pension Protection Fund (Tax) (2005–06) Regulations 
			 2005 1979 Excise Duties (Road Fuel Gas) (Reliefs) Regulations 
			 2005 2009 Value Added Tax (Disclosure of Avoidance Schemes) (Amendment) 
			 2005 2017 Partnerships (Restrictions on Contributions to a Trade) Regulations 
			 2005 2045 Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) Regulations 
			 2005 2200 Tax Credit (Payment by Employers, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2231 Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 2462 Taxes (Interest Rate) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2691 Income Tax (Pay as You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2790 Donations to charity by individuals (Appropriate Declarations) (Amendment)Regulations 
			 2005 3290 Value Added Tax (Input Tax) (Reimbursement by Employers of Employees' Business Use of Road Fuel) Regulations 
			 2005 3320 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Reliefs for Electricity Generation) Regulations 
			 2005 3338 Lloyd's Underwriters (Tax) Regulations 
			 2005 3371 Statistics of Trade (Customs and Excise) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3441 Inheritance Tax (Double Charges Relief) Regulations 
			 2005 3448 Registered Pension Schemes (Relief at Source) Regulations 
			 2005 3449 Registered Pension Schemes (Prescribed Interest Rates for Authorised Employer Loans) Regulations 
			 2005 3450 Registered Pension Schemes (Minimum Contributions) Regulations 
			 2005 3451 Registered Pension Schemes (Prescribed Schemes and Occupations) 
			 2005 3452 Registered Pension Schemes (Discharge of Liabilities under Sections 267 and 268 of the Finance Act 2004) Regulations 
			 2005 3453 Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits Schemes (Provision of Information) Regulations 
			 2005 3454 Registered Pension Schemes (Accounting and Assessment) Regulations 
			 2005 3455 Registered Pension Schemes and Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits Schemes (Information) (Prescribed Descriptions of Persons) Regulations 
			 2005 3456 Registered Pension Schemes (Audited Accounts) (Specified Persons) 
			 2005 3457 Taxes Management Act 1970 (Modifications to Schedule 3 for Pension Scheme Appeals) Order 
			 2005 3458 Registered Pension Schemes (Restriction of Employers' Relief) Regulations 
			 2005 3472 Hydrocarbon Oil (Registered Remote Markers) Regulations 
			 2005 3474 Income Tax (Building Societies) (Dividends and Interest) (Amendment) 
			 2006 111 Lloyd's Underwriters (Conversion to Limited Liability Underwriting) (Tax) 
			 2006 112 Lloyd's Underwriters (Scottish Limited Partnerships) (Tax) (Amendment) 
			 2006 129 Registered Pension Schemes (Relevant Annuities) 
			 2006 130 Registered Pension Schemes (Uprating Percentages for Defined Benefit Arrangements and Enhanced Protection Limits) 
			 2006 131 Registered Pension Schemes (Enhanced Lifetime Allowances) 
			 2006 132 Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Excluded Benefits for Tax Purposes) 
			 2006 133 Registered Pension Schemes (Co-ownership of Living Accommodation) 
			 2006 134 Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Payments) (Transfers to the Pension Protection Fund) 
			 2006 135 Registered Pension Schemes (Meaning of Pension Commencement Lump Sum) 
			 2006 136 Pension Benefits (Insurance Company Liable as Scheme Administrator) 
			 2006 137 Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Member Payments) 
			 2006 138 Pension Schemes (Reduction in Pension Rates)

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1735W, on tax arrears, if he will make it his policy to notify the taxpayer (a) that interest will be charged, (b) of the date it is to be levied from and (c) the interest rate, at the time the review is notified; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Whenever an enquiry is opened into a tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sends the taxpayer a code of practice with the opening letter. The code of practice says that
	"interest will be charged from the original due date on any tax paid after that date. This includes additional amounts as a result of our enquiry."
	Rates of interest are available from the HMRC internet website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/interest.htm or from any HMRC local office.

Tax Credit

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland were in receipt of (i) less than £1,000, (ii) between £1,000 and £2,500, (iii) between £2,500 and £5,000, (iv) between £5,000 and £10,000, (v) between £10,000 and £20,000 and (vi) above £20,000 in working tax credits and child tax credits in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The average number of in-work families in England in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(29) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(30) 1,737 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 477 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 547 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 756 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000 49 
			 £20,000 and over(31) — 
			 All 3,566 
		
	
	(29) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(30) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(31) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
	The average number of in-work families in Tees Valley 1 in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	1 Tees Valley is defined as the sum of the unitary authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(32) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(33) 25.2 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 7.2 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 9.0 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 14.6 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000 1 
			 £20,000 and over(34) — 
			 All 56.7 
		
	
	(32) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(33) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(34) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
	The Average number of in-work families in Middlesborough South and East Cleveland in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(35) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(36) 3.8 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 1.0 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 1.2 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 1.7 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000(37) — 
			 £20,000 and over(37) — 
			 All 7.7 
		
	
	(35) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(36) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(37) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.

Tax Credit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the impact of recovery in-year of overpaid tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 518W.

Tax Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) tax credit awards, (b) tax credit awards where the claimant was in receipt of the maximum tax credits to which they were entitled and (c) tax credit awards where the claimant received only the family element of the child tax credit there were in 2003–04; and what the (i) total value and (ii) average award was of tax credits in each category in that period.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 January 2006
	For parts (a) and (c) I refer the hon. Member to the publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04" (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-annual-0304.pdf).
	(b) The following shows additional analyses based on the same data, and cover only the in-work period of families with awards where the claimant was in receipt of the maximum tax credits to which they were entitled in 2003–04:
	
		
			  2003–04 
		
		
			 Average number during 2003–04 (thousand) 484 
			 Total entitlement during 2003–04 (£ million) 3,179 
			 Average annualised entitlement (£) 6,568

Court Service (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent performance of the Court Service in Coventry.

Harriet Harman: All data covers April to December 2005 unless stated otherwise (targets, where applicable, in brackets)
	Provision of Timely Information to Other Agencies
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all court registers produced within 3 days (100 per cent.)
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all representation order application decisions despatched within two days (100 per cent.)
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all committals to the Crown court despatched within four days (100 per cent.)
	Ineffective Trials (PSA 1)
	Crown: 14.8 per cent. of all trials (17 per cent.)
	Mags: 20.6 per cent. of all trials (22.5 per cent.)
	Criminal Case Timeliness (PSA 1)
	Crown: 83 per cent. of cases listed in target (78 per cent.)
	Mags: 86 per cent. of cases completed within target periods (80 per cent.)
	Persistent Young Offenders (PSA 1)
	Crown: Average of 183 days to completion (180 days)
	Mags: Average of 47 days to completion (60 days)
	Payment Rate (PSA 2)
	Mags: 70 per cent. (75 per cent.)
	Enforcement of Court Order Breaches (PSA2)
	Mags: Average of 27 days from unacceptable failure to comply with order to resolution (35 days)
	Mags: 74 per cent. of breaches resolved within 25 days (50 per cent.)
	Small Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 58 per cent. of claims heard within 15 weeks (80.5 per cent.)
	Fast-Track Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 82 per cent. of claims heard within 30 weeks (78 per cent.)
	Multi-Track Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 59 per cent. of claims heard within 50 weeks (78 per cent.)
	Family Public Law (PSA 4)
	County: 28 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (35 per cent.)
	Mags: 14.3 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (43.9 per cent.)
	Family Private Law
	County: 67 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (70 per cent.)
	Adoptions
	County: 81 per cent. of cases completed within 20 weeks (70 per cent.)
	Courtroom Utilisation
	Crown and County: 96 per cent. of available courtroom capacity utilised (no target)
	Mags: 86 per cent. of available courtroom capacity utilised (80 per cent.)

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disciplinary actions against officials employed by the Judicial Correspondence Unit (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Harriet Harman: Data for the number of employees (in any part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs) against whom disciplinary action has been commenced, or in respect of whom disciplinary sanctions, short of dismissal, have been applied is only recorded on individual files. These are retained for the appropriate period before removal and destruction in compliance with the Department's obligations under the Data Protection Act. It is not therefore possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Council Tax

Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the district precept of Band D council tax (a) excluding and (b) including average parish precepts was in (i) Guildford borough and (ii) Waverly borough, in each year since 1997–98.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is tabled as follows.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Average Band D council tax for the authority 
			  Guildford Waverley 
			  Excluding parish precepts Including parish precepts Excluding parish precepts Including parish precepts 
		
		
			 1997–98 89 103 91 107 
			 1998–99 95 109 97 117 
			 1999–2000 91 106 100 122 
			 2000–01 96 112 104 129 
			 2001–02 103 119 108 135 
			 2002–03 112 129 114 144 
			 2003–04 121 139 125 157 
			 2004–05 125 144 132 165 
			 2005–06 128 148 139 173 
		
	
	Source:
	BR1 returns

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 3 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1264–5W, for the cost of the main Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: odpm.gov.uk.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 17 October 2005, Official Report, columns 805–06W, for monthly visitors to the site from September 2003 to August 2005. Figures for September and October 2005 are table as follows:
	
		
			 Month Unique visitors 
		
		
			 September 2005 177,413 
			 October 2005 187,381

Housing

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has given to the South West Regional Assembly on the numbers of new houses to be built in (a) the South West, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) the Cotswolds.

Yvette Cooper: Current Government guidance on the number of new additional housing required in the South West for the period 1996 to 2016 is contained in Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) published in 2001. RPG10 includes a figure for Gloucestershire County but no figures for any district council such as Cotswolds. The South West figure in RPG 10 is 20,200 net additional houses per annum and 2,400pa for Gloucestershire.
	The South West Regional Assembly (SWRA), as the Regional Planning Body, is now preparing a draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) as required by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The RSS will replace RPG10; cover the period to 2026; and set out District housing requirements. It is understood that a draft RSS will be submitted by the SWRA for public consultation later this year. No guidance has been given by Government to the SWRA as to what specific housing numbers should be proposed in the draft RSS. Government guidance on the content of the RSS is contained in PPS11 "Regional Spatial Strategies" and in PPG3 "Housing" on planning for housing.

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud were detected in each of the last six years; and how many of these have resulted in (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		Number of cases of detected fraud, prosecutions and convictions (excluding housing benefit and council tax benefit)
		
			  Cases of detected fraud Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 1999–2000 198,467 9,272 9,129 
			 2000–01 182,569 11,584 11,403 
			 2001–02 160,974 11,355 11,183 
			 2002–03 145,232 9,396 9,267 
			 2003–04 135,710 9,204 9,091 
			 2004–05 150,651 8,670 8,573 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The above figures for cases of detected fraud are based on the number of effective benefit cases, which is defined as an investigation that results in an adjustment of the current rate of benefit, an overpayment or an underpayment or the person ceasing their claim to benefit. Effective cases are the total of benefit cases plus Instrument of Payment cases.
	2. Figures exclude General Matching Service (GMS).
	Source:
	Fraud Information by Sector (FiBS)
	We do not collect information on the number of benefit fraud cases detected by local authorities. The number of attempted prosecutions and convictions undertaken by local authorities is given in the table:
	
		Number of prosecutions and convictions (housing benefit and council tax benefit only)
		
			  Number of court summons issued ("prosecutions") Number of successful prosecutions ("convictions") 
		
		
			 1999–2000 — 861 
			 2000–01 — 1112 
			 2001–02 2,101 1,732 
			 2002–03 3,187 2,503 
			 2003–04 4,601 3,747 
			 2004–05 5,544 4,688 
			 2005–06 (Q1 and Q2 only) 3,336 2,892 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures for local authority prosecutions which did not lead to conviction are not available prior to 2001–02.

Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on the harmonisation of pay days for different benefits, with particular reference to claimants moving from one benefit to another.

Margaret Hodge: The Green Paper "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work", published on 24 January 2006, makes clear our commitment to simplify the benefits system. A key aim of simplification is to ease transitions in and out of work. Problems caused by differences in paydays will be considered as part of this.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total number of non-resident parents who (a) make maintenance payments under the Child Support Agency (CSA) rules, (b) cannot be traced to pay under the CSA, (c) are assessed to have a zero liability due to low income, (d) are assessed to make payments but do not do so regularly, (e) have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside the CSA and (f) make no payments and are not referred to the CSA; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions;
	what his estimate is of the total number of non-resident parents who (a) make maintenance payments under the Child Support Agency (CSA) rules (b) cannot be traced to pay under the CSA (c) are assessed to have a zero liability due to low income (d) are assessed to make payments but do not do so regularly (e) have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside the CSA and (f) make no payments and are not referred to the CSA; and if he will make a statement.
	Such information as is available is presented below:
	(a) In September 2005, 297,000 cases were in receipt of maintenance via the Agency's collection service. In addition, a further 100,000 had a maintenance direct arrangement in place which, when the arrangement was originally set up, would have been underpinned by a CSA calculation or assessment.
	(b) At the end of September 2005, there were 35,000 cases on the old scheme old computer system that were suspended because the NRP could not be traced. In addition, there were 14,000 old scheme cases that required trace action by CSA staff. Equivalent information is not currently available for new and old scheme cases on the new computer system.
	(c) In September 2005, 461,000 cases had a zero liability
	(d) In September 2005, 127,000 cases were scheduled to make payments via the Agency's collection service, but did not comply with this request. An additional 128,000 had a maintenance liability, but no active charging schedule currently in place.
	(e) In respect of the number of NRPs who have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside of the Agency:
	i) In 2003–04 the Family Resources Survey (FRS) reported that there were 550,000 Parents with care (PWCs) who were receiving maintenance direct from the NRP. It is likely that this figure will also include those cases in which the Agency has carried out a calculation or assessment and the NRP is then paying the PWC direct (i.e. "maintenance direct" cases, of which there were 84,000 in April 2004). However, it is not possible to quantify the extent to which such maintenance direct cases are, or are not, included in the FRS estimate.
	ii) Analysis of the 2004 Family and Children's Survey suggests that 131,000 households have a court order in force with an absent parent, and that 580,000 households have a voluntary agreement in place. As with the FRS, it is possible that there might be an unquantifiable overlap with Agency's "maintenance direct" cases.
	(f) Information is not available for the number of NRPs who make no payments and are not referred to the Agency.
	I hope you find this helpful,

Jobseeker's Allowance

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the main reasons for claimants leaving jobseeker's allowance; and how many people there were in each category of departure in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		Claimants leaving jobseeker's allowance by recorded reason, Great Britain: 1997–98 to 2004–05
		
			  March to February 
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Total JSA Terminations 3,473.3 3,088.4 3,120.6 2,903.3 2,661.3 2,624.0 2,536.0 2,337.0 
			 Move to another benefit in 90 days(41) 472.2 386.2 388.4 378.4 338.3 328.5 266.8 243.3 
			 Return to JSA in 90 days 911.2 904.8 948.6 878.3 802.9 796.1 752.3 686.9 
			 Reach Retirement age/recorded as reaching retirement age 14.7 3.9 3.8 2.3 1.9 1.8 2.6 2.0 
			 Recorded as claiming another benefit 78.3 24.3 21.9 16.4 11.6 14.6 20.0 19.8 
			 Recorded as entering work(42) 1,145.1 1,094.3 1,071.8 796.2 587.3 668.7 858.3 751.9 
			 Recorded as entering New Deal 4.3 3.5 6.3 5.0 4.3 4.9 5.1 4.2 
			 Recorded as failed to attend 395.0 384.5 391.1 301.2 210.9 258.8 341.4 337.5 
			 Recorded as entering training 44.9 57.1 63.5 40.7 24.1 33.1 47.0 51.4 
			 Recorded as entering full time education 146.2 25.9 22.8 14.8 11.5 14.2 18.6 15.7 
			 Recorded as gone abroad 31.9 36.8 35.3 26.4 19.2 24.4 33.0 27.7 
			 Other reason recorded 22.7 18.2 20.7 21.4 16.0 18.0 26.1 28.0 
			 Unknown Reason 206.8 148.7 146.4 422.2 633.2 460.7 164.9 168.5 
		
	
	(41) Moving to another benefit includes those claimants starting to claim income support (IS)/pension credit (PC), incapacity benefit (IB), working families tax credit (WFTC), and disabled persons tax credit (DPTC) within 90 days of the jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claim ending. It is possible that claimants may not move directly from JSA to another benefit, e.g. they may cease claiming JSA, find work and then claim IB within the given 90 day period.
	(42) It is known that the number recorded as returning to work underestimates the true situation. It is not possible to determine the number that moved to employment, however the "Destinations of Benefit Leavers 2004" report showed that 62 per cent. of IS, JSA and IB leavers entered employment of 16 hours or more a week.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Those reasons shown as "Recorded as" are what are completed on the JSA computer system following termination of the JSA claim. It is known that this information is not reliable and therefore figures should be used as a guide only.
	3. Destinations of terminated JSA claims are assigned in the priority order shown above.
	4. Number of terminations in the last year will increase following receipt of late notifications.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples (terminations dataset).

Pensioners (Fuel Concessions)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value was of help given to pensioners to help them with fuel bills in each year from 1979 to 1997.

James Plaskitt: The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments scheme was introduced in October 1988. It replaced a similar but not identical Cold Weather Payments scheme which had begun in December 1986. Prior to that there had been a system of payments based on local office discretion.
	The form of the current Cold Weather Payments scheme dates from 1991–92. Under the scheme, a Cold Weather Payment is made when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the eligible customer's postcode. Eligible customers are now those awarded pension credit, or those awarded income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance who have a pensioner or disability premium or a child who is disabled or aged under 5, when the temperature criterion is met for their postcode.
	Data is available only from the start of the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments scheme. Only total expenditure is available, not expenditure on pensioners. The available data is in the following table.
	Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in winter 1997–98 to ensure that pensioners can afford to heat their homes in the winter months.
	
		Cold weather payments in Great Britain
		
			  Total expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1988–89 0.0 
			 1989–90 0.4 
			 1990–91 9.3 
			 1991–92 23.0 
			 1992–93 15.0 
			 1993–94 12.4 
			 1994–95 0.1 
			 1995–96 61.6 
			 1996–97 42.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for 1990–91 include payments for the winter of 1990–91 made in April and May 1991.
	2. As an indication of expenditure on pensioners, the proportion of total Cold Weather Payments expenditure on pensioners in 2000–01 was 50 per cent. (2000–01 is the first year for which both data is available and there was substantial Cold Weather Payments expenditure.) (Source: DSS Programme Accounting Computer System.)
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.
	4. Total expenditure for 1988–89 was £2,510. That winter was a particularly mild one.
	Source:
	Secretary of State's annual reports on the Social Fund.

Post Office Card Account

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his Department has decided to end the Post Office card account (POCA) contract; how many users of the POCA will be affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 January 2006
	Around 3.6 million customers of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) currently have their benefit or pension paid into a Post Office card account. (HM Revenue and Customs and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency also pay some of their customers into a Post Office card account, taking the total number of card accounts to around 4.25 million.)
	The Post Office card account was introduced in April 2003 to help support the conversion of some customers from order books to Direct Payment. It was aimed at those who did not already have a suitable account and was designed as a "stepping stone" to help people who had not used a bank account before get used to banking before moving on to an account offering more features.
	In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank or building society account is the best option for the overwhelming majority of customers. The Post Office card account is a simple account with limited functions. It can only receive payments of benefits, pensions and tax credits. It does not, for example, allow customers to make savings on fuel bills by paying by Direct Debit; it cannot receive payments of wages; cheques cannot be paid in to the Post Office card account; and it does not pay interest on balances.
	Although the card account was designed for those who did not already have a bank or building society account, 70 per cent. of people who have opened one already have an account. And the remaining 30 per cent. have shown that, by managing to open and operate a Post Office card account, they can use other easy to operate banking products—including basic bank accounts, which are widely available and accessible at Post Office branches. The Post Office card account has allowed some customers to move from receiving their benefit or pension through cashing an order book at the Post Office counter to getting used to the basics of banking. In practice, there is no real difference in accessing money at the Post Office via a bank account compared to a Post Office card account—customers can collect the same money, on the same day as they do now at the Post Office, by using a plastic card and a personal identification number.
	The Post Office card account contract runs between 2003 and 2010. There was never any expectation that the Government should provide funding beyond that date and there is no case for doing so. The Post Office card account does little to promote financial inclusion. Customers will still be able to collect their benefit or pension at the Post Office by using their bank or building society account there. Around 25 different bank accounts can be accessed at Post Office branches.
	We also understand Post Office Limited is developing new banking and savings products which will be aimed at existing Post Office card account customers. We would like every DWP customer who currently has a Post Office card account to do their banking at the Post Office if that is in their best interests. DWP can help people move off Post Office card accounts to having their benefit or pension paid into more suitable bank or building society accounts, and help them open new ones which can be used at the Post Office if necessary. We will work with the Post Office and other stakeholders to develop a strategy to move customers from the Post Office card account. Our priority will be to ensure that this is a straightforward process for the customers themselves.

Community Hospitals

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of community hospitals.

Patricia Hewitt: The White Paper, "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction For Community Services" was published yesterday, which sets out the Government's vision for the future of community hospitals. This builds on the 2005 manifesto commitment to develop a new generation of modern NHS community hospitals.

Community Health

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the White Paper on community health.

Liam Byrne: The White Paper, "Our health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services" was published on 30 January 2006.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people attended Accident and Emergency departments in (a) England and (b) West Cheshire Primary Care Trust (i) in total and (ii) on Saturday mornings in each year since 1995.

Liam Byrne: Accident and emergency (A&E) attendance figures for England for the years requested are shown in the table and is available on the Department's website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/about_data/a_and_e_attendances.htm.
	The Cheshire West Primary Care Trust is not a provider of A&E services. However, the Countess of Cheshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been providing A&E services within the Cheshire West geographical area since 1993. Attendance figures for this trust are also shown in the table.
	
		Total attendances at A&E departments, 1995–96 to 2004–05
		
			   England Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 
		
		
			 1995–96 14,234,290 n/a 
			 1996–97 14,126,177 55,952 
			 1997–98 14,364,146 55,860 
			 1998–99 14,280,388 54,333 
			 1999–2000 14,629,025 56,380 
			 2000–01 14,293,307 54,712 
			 2001–02 14,044,018 55,813 
			 2002–03 14,045,575 55,319 
			 2003–04 16,516,845 57,816 
			 2004–05 17,837,180 58,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	From 2003–04 attendances at A&E walk-in centres were included.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH09, QMAE
	The data requested on A&E attendance on Saturday mornings is not collected centrally.

Ambulance Service

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of demand for ambulance services was in each ambulance trust between midnight and four a.m. on 4 December (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally collected by the Department.
	Level of demand for ambulance services is based on the number of emergency calls received by ambulance trusts. The data that the Department does collect on emergency calls is published in the statistical bulletin, "Ambulance services, England: 2004–05", which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/36/79/04113679.pdf.

Gambling

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what gambling addiction services are available in (a) Lancashire and (b) Lancaster and Wyre.

Liam Byrne: Very few problem gamblers present to the national health service for treatment and specialist services are not widely available. However, most addiction services which concentrate on substance misuse, are also prepared to treat problem gamblers. However, this data is not centrally collected by the Department.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been registered with a GP in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: From 1 April 2004 patients register with a practice rather than an individual general practitioner. Total registration data is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of patients registered with a general practitioner and from 2004 general practice in England
		
			  
		
		
			 1 October 1997 50,917,256 
			 1 October 1998 51,117,646 
			 1 October 1999 50,898,948 
			 30 September 2000 51,336,812 
			 30 September 2001 51,254,833 
			 30 September 2002 51,524,894 
			 30 September 2003(43) 52,713,780 
			 30 September 2004(44) 52,527,737 
		
	
	(43) 2003 patient data has been revised from previously published figures.
	(44) Numbers of patients registered with a general practice.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the number of inappropriate (a) investigations, (b) prescriptions and (c) referrals should multiple registration be introduced.

Liam Byrne: These are among the considerations we are taking into account in preparing the forthcoming White Paper following the public consultation on "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say".

Health Workers (Checks)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding checks for health workers who work with children in schools; and when such discussions took place.

Liam Byrne: Prior to her announcement on 19 January, the Secretary of State had conversations about safeguarding children with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Ruth Kelly) on 12 and 18 January.

Hospital Beds

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for hospital bed occupancy; how many beds have been available in (a) general and (b) acute wards in hospitals in Lancashire Teaching NHS Trust in each year since 1997; and what percentage of these were occupied on average in each year.

Liam Byrne: Evidence suggests that the optimal bed occupancy rate is around 82 to 85 per cent. These figures however are merely a guideline and it is up to the national health service locally to decide how best to manage their services.
	The number of beds that have been made available in general and acute wards in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, and the percentage of these that were occupied on average since 1997 is shown in the table. The data is collected on a provider rather than a commissioner basis.
	
		Average daily number of available general and acute beds in wards open overnight and occupancy rate, Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
		
			  Available Percentage occupancy 
			  Acute General Acute General 
		
		
			 1997–98(45) 867 144 76.5 81.3 
			 1998–99(45) 880 135 79.5 85.9 
			 1999–2000(45) 890 123 80.8 87.8 
			 2000–01(45) 894 135 82.0 90.7 
			 2001–02(46) 903 163 82.9 90.6 
			 2002–03 929 144 81.8 93.1 
			 2003–04 950 135 85.3 95.4 
			 2004–05 936 130 84.1 87.6 
		
	
	(45) Figures represent Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust and Preston Acute Hospital NHS Trust.
	(46) Figures represent Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust
	Note:
	Revised 7 December 2005 following refresh of dataset in line with DH revisions Policy General beds are defined as Geriatric beds.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Housing Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister the merits of including health impact assessments in planning for areas designated for housing growth.

Caroline Flint: The Government's White Paper "Choosing health" integrated health impact assessment (HIA) into the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) process so that all Government Departments could consider the possible impact of their policies on health.
	The Department has regular contact with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on a range of issues including the integration of health considerations in planning. We have provided information on health in new ODPM guidance on strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal. Such appraisals are applied to regional spatial strategies and local development documents which are used for planning purposes.

Influenza

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to question reference 40822, what the closing date is for tenders to contract to supply influenza vaccine to tackle a pandemic.

Caroline Flint: We have just concluded pre-tender meetings with the manufacturers who expressed an interest to the Official Journal of the European Union. The closing date for tenders was 28 November 2005. Final tenders will be issued by the end of this month following comments received on the draft issued before the pre-tender meetings.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 145–46W, on NHS finance, if she will provide the equivalent figures for NHS income from fees and charges from NHS trusts in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and if she will outline the reasons for the trend in this income stream from 2002–03 to 2004–05.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 1555–58W which provided the comparable data for 2002–03 and 2003–04. The three years data is:
	
		Fees and charges from NHS trusts
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 386.1 
			 2003–04 531.7 
			 2004–05 669.4 
		
	
	The figures refer to income from local authorities and other non-national health service income.
	The increase is principally due to increases in income from local authorities for example under care trust joint arrangements or for delayed discharges, over the period.

NHS Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Written Statement of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS, on NHS finance data, what planned financial support each (a) strategic health authority, (b) primary care trust and (c) NHS trust will (i) receive and (ii) provide in 2005–06 at (A) month six of 2005–06 and (B) year end 2005–06; and what the forecast gross financial position of each body is at each date.

Liam Byrne: The 2005–06 month six forecast outturn position for all national health service organisations (strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and national health service trusts) is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en
	Copies of this information are available in the Library.
	The figure provided on the Department's website and in the Library, are inclusive of planned support.
	Detailed in-year monitoring data is used for operational management of the NHS. It is not appropriate to publish the data at this stage.

Psychiatrists

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average and (b) target waiting time was to see a (i) psychiatrist and (ii) psychologist for (A) adults and (B) children in (1) Lancashire and (2) Lancaster and Wyre in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Estimated average waiting time from GP written referral to first out-patient appointment, mental health specialties,September 1997 to September 2005
		
			 Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to<44 to <1313 to <1717 to <21 21 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2002 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 480 332 39 5 5 861 3.6 5.4 
			 2003 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 470 289 28 19 0 806 3.4 5.2 
			 2004 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 419 232 25 0 0 676 3.2 4.7 
			 2005 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 299 156 0 0 0 455 3.1 4.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks) 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to <44 to <1313 to <26 26 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2001 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 71 130 42 27 270 8.5 12.9 
		
	
	
		
			   Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks) 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to <44 to <1313 to <1717 to<21 21 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2002 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 112 123 15 13 21 284 6.2 9.2 
			 2003 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 126 129 20 9 0 284 5.2 6.4 
			 2004 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 231 241 30 0 0 502 4.8 5.9 
			 2005 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 123 111 15 0 0 249 4.2 5.7 
		
	
	
		Parts of the following organisations merged to form Lancashire Care NHS Trust
		
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral 
			 Quarter: September  Code  Name  0 to <44  to <1313  to <26  26 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 1997 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 40 87 34 32 193 9.9 16.3 
			 1998 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 56 61 28 13 158 7.5 11.7 
			 1999 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 74 68 20 5 167 5.3 8.2 
			 2000 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 77 66 25 11 179 5.8 9.9 
			 2001 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 36 98 20 9 163 8.2 10.8 
			   
			 1997 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 51 41 7 9 108 4.8 9.8 
			 1998 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 46 62 7 20 135 7.2 13.3 
			 1999 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 42 33 7 0 82 4.0 6.1 
			   
			 1997 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 21 51 74 0 146 13.3 13.1 
			 1998 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 12 23 28 33 96 19.3 25.8 
			 1999 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 63 41 0 0 104 3.3 4.6 
			 2000 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 28 43 33 33 137 12.6 20.3 
			 2001 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 45 53 36 2 136 8.0 9.9 
			   
			 1998 RME Communicare NHS Trust 4 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 
			   
			 1997 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 80 86 1 0 167 4.4 5.5 
			 1998 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 55 6 0 0 61 2.3 2.6 
			 1999 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 71 22 0 0 93 2.6 3.5 
			 2000 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 62 58 0 0 120 3.9 5.1 
			 2001 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 77 35 0 0 112 2.9 4.0 
			   
			 1997 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 31 86 45 3 165 9.4 11.1 
			 1998 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 82 91 12 0 185 5.1 6.3 
			 1999 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 41 74 19 0 134 7.2 8.1 
			 2000 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 202 98 21 5 326 3.2 5.8 
			 2001 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 254 155 22 0 431 3.4 5.2 
			   
			 1999 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 91 164 15 3 273 6.5 7.4 
			 2000 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 166 138 0 0 304 3.7 5.0 
			 2001 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 65 91 0 0 156 5.3 5.8 
		
	
	n/a denotes organisations where fewer than 10 patients were seen.
	Notes:
	1. Data for specialties:
	710—Mental Illness
	711—Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
	712—Forensic Psychiatry
	713—Psychotherapy
	715—Old Age Psychiatry
	2. Due to small numbers, the calculation of the median wait is prone to fluctuation at PCT and SHA level. Care should be taken when interpreting these figures.
	3. Waiting times apply to consultant-led appointments only. Services in many areas are now run by multi disciplinary teams.
	4. Lancashire Care NHS Trust was formed in an April 2002 merger of the following organisations:
	RMB—Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust (MH services)
	RML—Blackpool, Wyre and Fyde Community Health NHS trust (MH services)
	RED—Burnley Health Care NHS Trust (mental health services)
	RJU—Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust (mental health services)
	RME—Communicare NHS Trust (psychology and drugs services)
	RMG—Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust
	RVT—North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infection rates for (a) chlamydia, (b) HIV, (c) gonorrhoea, (d) herpes and (e) syphilis were in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust area in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: This data is only routinely published at strategic health authority (SHA) level. This is shown in table 1. Sexually transmitted infections data is not yet available for 2005. The HIV diagnoses are from reports received from laboratories and clinicians by the end of September 2005.
	
		Table 1: Rates(47)(48) per 100,000 population of diagnoses of HIV and other selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority between 2000–04(49)
		
			 Condition description(50) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 HIV 4.0 4.1 6.5 6.5 7.6 
			 Primary and Secondary Syphilis 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.6 
			 Uncomplicated Gonorrhoea 7.2 11.8 10.6 10.1 12.7 
			 Uncomplicated Chlamydia 41.3 39.0 59.4 72.1 116.9 
			 Genital Herpes 24.1 25.9 25.0 23.3 27.7 
		
	
	(47) The denominator used to calculate the HIV rate was the population aged 15 above in Kent and Medway SHA.
	(48) The denominator used to calculate STI rates was the total population of the SHA.
	(49) Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics are open access services, so the data do not relate to residents of the SHA, but diagnoses made in the clinics within the SHA.
	(50) Includes HIV diagnoses made in GUM clinics and other settings such as general practice and infectious disease units. For other STIs, only diagnoses made in GUM clinics are recorded.
	Source:
	Reports of HIV diagnoses and KC60 Returns (other STIs)

Young People (Culinary Ability)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a summary of results of the survey of young people's attitudes to cooking and culinary ability; how much this survey cost; what public health interventions its evidence will be used to support; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We have been encouraged by the interest in the survey of young people's attitudes to cooking and culinary skills. The survey's findings will, at the earliest opportunity, be placed on the 5 A DAY website at www.5aday.nhs.uk.
	The survey cost £8,000 to undertake.
	The survey was designed to inform the development of the 5 A DAY programme with a focus on young independents aged 16 to 24. Survey results included:
	33 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds have passed off a ready meal as their own and
	one in 10 young people never cook a proper meal for themselves because they do not know how
	To help this group of young people improve their culinary skills, the Department has produced a new free recipe guide, "Fuel for Living". The guide provides simple and cost effective recipe ideas and cooking tips, to assist young people in preparing meals and increasing their fruit and vegetable consumption.